TouchScreenTravels logo

TouchScreenTravels

Our Touch, your Travels…
  1. Home
  2. Japan’s Best
  3. Topics
  4. REGIONS
  5. Kyōto 京都
  6. Daimonji-yama 大文字山

This is a preview of the full content of our Japan’s Best app.

Please consider downloading this app to support small independent publishing and because:

  • All content is designed for mobile devices and works best there.
  • Detailed in-app maps will help you find sites using your device’s GPS.
  • The app works offline (one time upgrade required on Android versions).

The app will also allow you to:

  • Add custom locations to the app map (your hotel…).
  • Create your own list of favourites as you browse.
  • Search the entire contents using a fast and simple text-search tool.
  • Make one-click phone calls (on phones).
iOS App Store Google Play

Daimonji-yama 大文字山

Hiking in the nearby eastern mountains

P1070632

For outstanding views out over Kyōto, consider climbing Daimonji-yama, high above the Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) at the base of the northeastern mountains.

From the temple you’ve got a 220m vertical climb. There are some steepish spots, but it’s not overly strenuous, to get to the small shrine at the intersecting points in the giant 大 (dai) on the mountain.

This is the site of the bonfire that is lit annually in the shape of the 大 on Daimonji-yama as part of Kyōto’s Gozan Okuribi festival on August 16.

The bonfires is enormous, with the 大 on Daimonji-yama - meaning ‘big’ - made up of three strokes of bonfire 160, 120, and 80 meters long.

Allow an hour for the round trip back to Ginkaku-ji.

Practical Info Practical Info icon

Daimonji-yama Hike from Ginkaku-ji

Hiking

Kyōto 京都

Text © Craig McLachlan

Image by Felix Filnkoessl